Bracelet connecter



April 20, 1937- J. W. GREENBQWE 2,077,473

BRACELET CONNECTER Filed March 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Shea#l l ELE-+4- ATTORNEYS April 20 1937- J. W. GREENBOWE 2,077,473

BRACELET CONNECTER Filed March 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "im I Eff-Eff@ NNW lNvENToR JM G/fff/Vwf.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES BRACELET CONNECTER James Walter Greenbowe, Newark, N. J., assgnor to Bruner-Ritter, Inc., a corporation of New York Application March 5,

.. 9 Claims.

This invention relates to wrist watch straps and more particularly to the extensible connecters used in conjunction with such straps.

An object of the invention is to provide a connecter which is rugged and easily operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connecter of the foldable link type having a take-up for the slight slack in the strap to which it is attached when on the arm of the wearer, the take-up being automatically released for resetting upon unfolding the links by a positive action upon the take-up mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a Vfoldable link type connecter with a ratchet and pawl take-up, the pawl being disengagedfrom its ratchet by a lateral movement automatically performed when the links are sub- Ystantiallyv completely unfolded.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a ratchetand pawl mechanism for the take-up of a bracelet connecter which is automatically actuated through a lateral camming action upon unfolding thei connecter to disengage the ratchet and pawl mechanism.

` Other objects of the invention will become ap-` parent fromcthe following description when taken in conjunction withl accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the bracelet connecter in folded position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but looking at the connecter from the underneath side.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the connecter inV folded position and in dotted outline I the connecter when partially opened.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the connecter with the cam plate removed to show the internal take-up mechanism.

Fig. 5'is a fragmentary plan view showing the manual'operation of the release for the take-up.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional detail view of the cam and lever release for the take-11p taken on Vline VII-VII of Fig.`4.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a further modification.

Fig. l0 is a plan view similar to Figs. 4 and 9 illustrating a still further modification.

The present invention is directed toA an improved form of wrist watch strap or bracelet connecter in which a folding member is hinged to a housing containing mechanism to lock or release 1935, Serial No. 10,138

an extension member, means being provided to normally'lock the extension member and means movable laterally under the action of means associated with the'pivot point of the folding member, operable when the folding member is moved a given distance to cause a lateral movement of a member for releasing the extension member.

One selected embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 8. As shown a connecter element I0 may comprise a trough shaped housing II having side flanges I2'and I3. One end I4 of the housing is provided with bearings I5 and I6 to receive apintle I 1 as the pivot point for one-end I8 of folding member I 9 provided with a ferrule 2| movable about Vthe pintle. The folding'member I9 is pivotally connected at 22 to a folding member 23, the free end of which is con'- nected to one section 24 of a chain which-may be attached to one side-A of a wrist watch (not shown). The other side of the watch may be attached to one end of another Vsection of chain 25. The other end of the chain 25 may connect with an extension member 26,v slidable in the housing I I.

The extension member 26 is preferably in the form of a fiat strip and in the construction illustrated includes guide strips 21 and 28 held by cross pieces 29V and an end-bar 3|` to which the section 25 is attached. The member 26 is proportioned to slide between flanges l2 and I3 and lugs 32 pressed from` the flanges keep the member 26 in proper sliding relation tofsurfaces 33 of wall 34 of the housing II (see Fig. 6). The wall 34 is provided with a channel or recess 34' to receive a self-acting latch or dog 35 provided with a lip 36 engageable with teeth 3'I carried on the inner edge of the strip 2l of the extension member 26. The latch 35 may include a resilient arm 38 extendingl from a shank 39 fastened by a clamp 4I which holds the latch member fast to the bottom Wall of the housing.

The clamp also serves as a stop to limit the movement of the extension member 26. The latch normally acts to engage teeth 3l and thus hold the member 26 from movement outwardly from the housing. The inclined faces of the teeth are so arranged however that the extension member 26 may be moved inwardly for an adjustment to shorten or close.4 the bracelet to make it more snugly fit the wrist when the folding members are closed and an adjustment is desired. I When the connecter is closed and the bracelet is fitted to the wrist by adjusting the extension member 26 it may be desirable to readjust or release the said member to enlarge the bracelet or strap. For this purpose a rocker member 42 is provided having a finger piece or projection 43 which extends outwardly from the housing. The member 42 is disposed in the channel or recess 34 and one practical form as shoWrr in Figs. 4 and 5 may comprise a flat strip with arcuate edges 44 and 45 arranged to contact with the side walls of the channel 34 to permit the member 42 to rock with the arcuate surface as the fulcrum.

The member 42 may have an arm 45 provided with a right angle notch 46 to receive an end 41 of the latch member 35. The latch member may be formed to firmly engage the end of the arm 45 and the resilient arm 38 serves to hold the lip or tooth 36 engaged with onev of the teeth 31 (see Fig. 5). When it is desired to release the teeth 31 the finger piece is moved laterally as shown and the member 42 is rocked lifting the latch 35.

It will be understood that in the present type of connecter the bracelet is always closed, that is, although the folding members may be open to permit the bracelet to be removed from or slipped over the hand onto the wrist the closed circle construction is maintained.

With this construction it is necessary to provide for a complete opening of the bracelet sothat it will easily pass over the hand and it is therefore desirable to have the extension member automatically released when the connecter is opened.

In the present construction this release is accomplished by utilizing a side thrust obtained by a movement of the hinge ferrule 2| during the movement of the folding member or link I 9. The ferrule may, as shown, be provided with a cut out portion so formed as to provide a helical surface or face 48 and the member 42 may be provided with a follower or lug 49. The latch member normally holds the follower against the cam face 48 so that as the ferrule turns, the folding member is lifted. Considerable movement is possible since the folding member moves from a closed to an open position.

When the folding members are closed the latch is free to act since the arrangement of the cam surface 48 is such that when the folding member I9 is closed the cam surface is removed leaving the member 42 free to be actuated by the finger piece 43. The folding members I9 and 23 when closed, lie one on the other and are held in closed relation by extending retainer pieces 5I which extend inwardly from the iianges I I and I2.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings a modified structure is shown wherein a latch member 52 is provided with a resilient arm 53 having an end 54 loosely held by a retainer piece 55. The latch member is provided with a lip or tooth 56 to engage teeth 31 on the extension member 26, the'construction of which is the same as shown in Fig. 4. The latch member 52 instead of being operated by means of a rocker member, is provided with a fulcrum point 51. and a lug 58 is engaged by the cam face 48 so that when the folding member I9 is open the tooth 56 is lifted releasing the member 26. When the folding member I9 is closed the tooth 56 may be lifted by a lateral movement of a nger piece 59.

Fig. 10 shows a latch member 6I secured at one end 62 by a clamp 4I and having a lug 63 engageable with a cam surface 64 formed in the ferrule of the member I9. The latch 6I is provided with a tooth 65 which normally engages teeth 31 of the member 26. It will be 11.01366.

that the cam surface 641s opposite with respect to the cam surface 48 since the movement of the latch member 6I is direct, the movement being about a fulcrum point at the fixed end of the latch. A hand piece 66 is provided to cause a movement of the latch to release the member 26 when the folding members are closed.

Although the present invention provides a connecter of the closed ring type it is obvious that the several operating elements utilizing the action of a cam or force member moved under the action of the moving hinge or ferrule may be employed in other constructions where the simplicity of operation attained by a lateral acting release of an extension member is desired.

A selected practical embodiment of the invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined.- by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A connecter for a wrist watch strap comprising a housing, a folding member pivotally connected to one end of said housing, an extension member slidable in said housing, teeth on said extension member, a latch member in said housing for engaging said teeth, and means mounted at the pivot of said folding member for moving said latch member laterally to disengage said teeth.

2. A connecter for a wrist watch strap comprising a housing, a folding member pivotally connected to one end of said housing, an extension member slidable in said housing, teeth on said extension member, a latch member in said housing for engaging said teeth, a rocker member in said housing having an arm engaging said latch member and means carried at the pivot of said folding member for operating said arm to rock the same and lift said latch member.

3. A connecter for a Wrist Watch strap comprising a housing, a foldable member, a plntle at one end of said housing, a ferrule at one end of said foldable member and movable about said pintle, an extension member slidable in said housing, a plurality of teeth on said extension member, a self-actuating latch in said housing for engaging said teeth, a helical cam surface on said ferrule and means connected with said latch engaging with said cam surface to disengage said latch from said teeth.

4. A connecter for a wrist watch strap comprising a housing, a folding member, a hinge including a pintle and a ferrule connecting saidi folding member to one end of said housing, an extension member having teeth slidable in said housing, a latch in said housing for engaging said teeth to hold said extension member in an adjusted position within said housing when said folding member is closed, a helical cam on said ferrule and means on said latch engaging said cam to cause said latch to be disengaged from said teeth upon a movement of said ferrule when said folding member is moved to an open position.

5. A connecter for a wrist watch strap comprising a slide member, a folding member, a hinge for pivotally attaching said folding member to said slide member, a second slide member, means for retaining said slide members in slidable relation, teeth on one slide member, a latch member on the other slide member, means for holding said latch member engaged with said teeth, a cam member carried by the hinge of said folding member and means on `said latch member engaging said cam for moving said latch member laterally to release said teeth.

6. A connecter for a Wrist watch strap comprising a slide member, a folding member, a hinge for pivotally attaching said folding member to said slide member, a second slide member, means for retaining said slide members in slidable relation, teeth on one slide member, a latch member on the other slide member, means for holding said latch member engaged with said teeth, a helical cam movable about the longitudinal axis of said hinge and means on said latch member engaging said cam for moving said latch member to release said teeth.

'7. A connecter for a Wrist Watch strap or the like comprising a slide member, a folding member, a hinge for pivotally attaching the folding member to the slide member, a second slide member, means for retaining said slide members in slidable relation, teeth on one of said slide members, a latch member on the other slide` member, means for normally holding said latch member engaged with said teeth, and a lateral cam surface movable about said hinge and means on said latch member engaging said cam for moving said latch member from engagement with said teeth.

8. A connecter for a Wrist Watch strap or the like comprising a slide member, a folding member, a hinge for pivotally attach/ing the folding member to the slide member, a second slide member, means for retaining said slide members in slidable relation, teeth on one of said slide members, a latch member on the other slide member, means for normally holding said latch member engaged with said teeth, and a helical cam movable about the longitudinal axis of said hinge and means on said latch member engaging said cam for moving said latch from engagement with said teeth.

9. A connecter for a Wrist watch strap or the like comprising a slide member, a folding member, a hinge for pivotally attaching the folding member to the slide member, a second slide member, means for retaining said slide members in slidable relation, teeth on one of said slide members, a latch member on the other slide member, means for normally holding said latch member engaged with said teeth, a helical cam movable about the longitudinal axis of said hinge and means on said latch member engaging said cam for moving said latch member from engagement with said teeth when said folding member vis open and means extending from said connecter when closed for manually releasing said latch member from engagement with said teeth.

JAMES W. GREENBOWE. 

